30 Year Mortgages

Pros and Cons of Choosing a 30 Year Mortgage Rate

In the current mortgage loan market, which is certainly reflective of the national and global economy as a whole, any potential homeowner seeking to acquire a 30 year fixed mortgage will prove to be not only a wise choice, but a logical one from a purely financial standpoint. At the outset of 2012, the national mortgage interest rate average for a typical 30 year fixed home loan stands at 4.18 %, with no points applied, for any borrower with a credit score of 720 or higher and who plans on putting at least 20% down toward the financing package. Major regional lenders are reporting some rates as low as 3.75%, depending on the particular market criteria, making the prospect of any prospective 30 year mortgage loan acquisition very attractive in the present lending environment.

Naturally, this current interest rate being so low is one of the major benefits for any borrower to consider regarding a fixed 30 year mortgage. However, there are a number of additional benefits to ‘locking-in’ to a long-term interest rate. All across the country there are in increasing number of families and individuals struggling to manage an already overburdened budget. Quite a few are facing job layoffs or reduced work weeks, while others are having to contemplate decreased pay rates just to keep the jobs they are lucky enough to still have. As a result of these troubling economic scenarios, the 30 year fixed mortgage can obviously provide some needed stability in an otherwise less-than-positive financial outlook for any potential home buyer. Another primary benefit aside from the attractive low interest rates is the far more affordable monthly payment, which makes the 30 year fixed loan a definite plus when compared to a lesser term loan of say a 15 year mortgage, simply by virtue of the mathematics – the shorter the term, the higher the monthly payment.

The benefits to a 30 year fixed mortgage don’t stop there either, especially when comparisons are analyzed further when a borrower examines the variable or adjustable rate mortgages, commonly referred to as an ARM. The adjustable interest rate mortgage is designed to do exactly that. Depending on the loan structure, the interest rate will be adjusted by the lending institution’s policy as set forth in the loan agreement to fluctuate, which can be every six months, every three, or every five years. With a fixed rate, a 30 year loan can provide a borrower with the security of having not only the constancy of monthly payments being the same month after month for the life of the loan, but the peace of mind and ease of maintaining a budget over the long-term as well. In addition, potential borrowers who have recently become subject to incurring less-than-favorable credit scores can also greatly benefit by a fixed rate and payment loan structure. This form of repayment stability and interest rate lock can have a remarkable affect on improving a borrower’s credit standings by permitting an easier financial management environment in which, over a period of time, refinancing an existing loan will become entirely feasible.

Choosing a 30 year fixed mortgage is a sensible option in today’s financial climate, especially when the interest rates are standing at record low levels. The old adage of being in the right place at the right time is certainly appropriate for any prospective home buyer considering making this all-important decision. It doesn’t take a degree in financial planning or economics to know when the numbers point to a good or safe bet, and a 30 year fixed mortgage, in the current market, may be the best choice a home buyer can count on with a solid measure of confidence.